Modified stacker

ABSTRACT

A stacker for flexible articles, such as cloth workpieces, that are successively presented to an output station. The stacker includes a support member for the flexible article and a movable member for transporting the articles from the output station to the support member. The output station has an opening which permits each flexible article to pass towards the support member to be grasped by clamping means, with there also being a movable member like a delivery tray which is adapted to assist in the draping of an edge of each article about an arm of the support member.

United States Patent Primary Examiner.loseph Wegbreit AssistantExaminerBruce H. Stoner, Jr. Attorney-Caesar, Rivise, Bernstein & CohenABSTRACT: A stacker for flexible articles, such as cloth workpieces,that are successively presented to an output station. The stackerincludes a support member for the flexible article and a movable memberfor transporting the articles from the output station to the supportmember. The output station has an opening which permits each flexiblearticle to pass towards the support member to be grasped by clampingmeans, with there also being a movable member like a delivery tray whichis adapted to assist in the draping of an edge of each article about anarm of the support member.

PATENTEDJM 4m 06 SHEET 1 UF 6 Z IO INVENTORS. ARTHUR SCHWENK HERSCHELBARON HERBERT v. JACOBS ATTORNEYS,

PATENTED JAN 4 E72 SHEET 3 BF 6 IIIII'LIIIIIIIII'II INVENTORS. ARTHURSCHWENK HERSCHEL BARON HERBERT v. JACOBS ATTORNEYS PATENTS) JAN 4m sum 5BF 6 202 200 I86 45 I88 I90 49 I92 INVENTORS. ARTHUR SCHWENK HERSCHELBARON HERBERT V. JACOBS ATTORNEYS.

PATENTEDJAN 4m: GIGS-2.10%

sum s 0F 6 INVENTORS. ARTHUR SCHWENK HERSCHEL BARON HERBERT V. JACOBSATTORNEYSo MODIFIED STACKER This invention relates generally to theoutput portion of an automatic production device and more particularlyto a modified stacker for flexible articles produced in successive orderby an automatic filing assembly, such as that as shown in Jacobs U.S.Pat. No. 3,223,059 and Jacobs et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,386,396.

In most conventional production facilities for flexible articles, aseach article is produced, an operator is required to manually take thearticle and pile it on a supporting device until a completed bundle isproduced having a predetermined number of articles therein. The bundleis then removed and the next bundle is made. Various automatic stackingarrangements have been suggested, but they have been proven to havedisadvantages.

One problem is that the bundles produced by the automatic stackingdevice are not neat or uniform. Therefore, an operator must be providedto align each of the articles in a bundle prior to the use in anotheroperation. Moreover, after a bundle has been completed, an operator mustbe provided to remove the bundle so that there will be room to assemblethe next bundle. Where an operator is not provided, the bundles areintermingled or the machine must be stopped after each bundle iscompleted and remain stopped until the bundle which is completed isremoved.

It is therefore an object of the invention to overcome theaforementioned disadvantages.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedmodified stacker for flexible articles.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved stackerwhich is both efficient and inexpensive.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedmodified stacker which enables continuous operation of an automaticsewing assembly producing successive flexible articles.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedmodified stacker for flexible articles which is space saving.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a new and improvedmodified stacker for flexible articles which piles articles into neatbundles and which enables storage of a plurality of bundles while a newbundle is being completed.

Reference is hereby made to copending application, Ser. No. 736,629,filed in the name of Baron et al. which discloses and claims a stackerwhich has proved to be quite satisfactory for many purposes. In saidapplication, Ser. No. 736,629 there is provided a movable member whichhas means for producing suction. The suction means act to secure thearticles to the movable member as the movable member transports thearticle to the support member.

In another aspect of the invention of said application, Ser. No. 736,629the support member includes a vertically extending shaft with elongatedmembers extending radially and perpendicularly from the shaft, with theshaft being rotatable so that after a predetermined number of articleshas been placed by the movable member on one of the arms, the shaft isrotated to present yet another am to support the next articles that aretransported by the movable member.

The present invention presents a modified stacker which, in someinstances, is more reliable and does not require the use of vacuum inorder to achieve the objective of the present invention.

The foregoing as well as other objects of the invention are achieved byproviding a modified stacker for flexible articles which aresuccessively presented to an output station. The modified stackercomprises a support member for the articles, with there being an openingin the support member to allow each of the articles to be deliveredwithin the grasp of clamping means that are positioned adjacent theoutput station. Each article is also brought within the range of adelivery tray or other movable member, which serves to drape the articleabout the support member.

Other objects and many of the attended advantages of this invention willbe readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood byreference to the following detailed description when considered inconnection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view showing the modified stacker of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is an end elevation of the modified stacker of FIG. 1, takenalong the lines 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the modified stacker taken along the lines3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the lines 4-4 of FIG.1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the lines 5-5 of FIG.4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the lines 6-6 of FIG.1;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the lines 7-7 of FIG.1;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the lines 8-8 of FIG.1;

FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing the delivery of a flexible articlefrom the support member into working range of the delivery tray;

FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9, but wherein the clamping means hasclosed and the delivery tray or movable member has begun its stroke; and

FIG. 11 is a view similar to FIGS. 9 and 10, but wherein the deliverytray has completed its stroke and the flexible article has beendelivered to an arm support member.

Referring now in greater detail to the various figures of the drawingwherein similar reference characters refer to similar parts, a modifiedstacker embodying the invention is shown generally at 10 in FIG. 1.

The stacker l0 basically comprises a support member or tumstile l2 and areciprocable movable member or delivery tray 14. The turnstile 12includes a plurality of arms l6, I8, 20 and 22, each of which acts tosupport a bundle of flexible articles or cloth workpieces such as workfronts.

Each of the arms are secured to and extend radially from a verticallyextending shaft 24 and are angularly spaced from each other about theperiphery of shaft 24. Each of the arms l6, 18, 20 and 22 each extendhorizontally and are secured at the uppermost portion of the shaft 24.It will be seen that the shaft 24 is adapted to be rotated 90 after apredetermined number of workpieces 26 have been draped upon a particulararm.

With reference to FIG. 1 it will be seen that each workpiece 26 isdelivered one by one while lying in a horizontal plane in a downstreamdirection as indicated by arrow 30 by the action of delivery belt 32. Itwill be further seen from FIG. I that each workpiece 26 is moved acrossa horizontal bed 34 which possesses an opening 36 that allows theworkpiece 26 to drape downwardly past the arm of tumstile 12.

It will be seen from FIGS. 1 and 9 that the leading edge 40 of theworkpiece 26 will be delivered to the space between movable jaw 42 andfixed jaw 44 of the clamping means 38.

From a further inspection of FIGS. 7 and 9 it will be seen that thedelivery tray or movable member 14 possesses spaced parallel rods 46, 48and 49, and that the workpiece 26 is caused to pass between the rods 46and 48. When the downstream movement of the workpiece 26 has ceased, themovable jaw 42 of the clamping means makes its stroke in the directionof arrow 50 of FIG. 10. Thus, the downstream end of the workpiece 26 istightly clamped. The delivery tray 14 is now actuate in the direction ofarrow 52, and with rearward movement of the delivery tray 14 the rod 46engages (FIG. 10) the workpiece 26 is its middle section and gives saidmiddle section a backward tug.

It will be seen that the rearward portion of the workpiece 26 will becaused to drape over arm 18 of tumstile 12 in the direction of arrow 54of FIG. 11. As this occurs there is sufficient weight of drapedworkpiece 26 that the remaining portion 58 (FIG. 10) including trailingedge 60 is caused by gravity to drape in the direction of arrow 54 aboutthe arm 18 as can be seen in FIG. 11.

As can also be seen in FIG. 11 the movable jaw 42 of the clamping means38 returns to its normally open position, and the delivery tray ormovable member 14 will move forwardly to its original position to awaitthe next workpiece.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the presentinvention requires four mechanical movements. First, there is themovement of the delivery belts 32 in order that the workpieces 26 be fedthrough opening 36. Second, there is the movement of the clamping means38 in order to grasp the leading edge 40 of the draped workpiece 26.Third, there is the reciprocated movement of the delivery tray 14 inorder to drape the bulk of the workpiece 26 over an arm of supportmember of tumstile 12. Finally, there is the periodic movement of thetumstile 12 in order to present a different arm that is to be loadedwith workpieces 26.

The various elements contributing to the aforesaid four movements willnow be discussed. The details of the delivery belt 32 and its associatedelements can best be seen in FIG. 1 wherein the delivery belt 32 isshown as being positioned immediately above the bed 34 along the righthand side of FIG. 1 for the purpose of acting as a top feeding mechanismfor each workpiece 26. The delivery belt 32 extends about the rollers102 and 014, and then moves upwardly to upper rollers 106 and 018. Thedelivery belt 32 then completes is endless path by returning to roller102. It will be seen from FIG. 1 that suitable framing to support thevarious rollers about which the delivery belt 32 passes are provided.Also, openings 110 are provided in horizontal frame 112 for the purposeof tightening or loosening block 114 which serves as a common supportfor one of the rollers 104 and one of the rollers 106.

It will be further seen from FIG. 1 that the roller 108 is driven bychain 116. Reference is made to FIG. 2 wherein the chain 116 is shown asextending between upper sprocket 118 and lower sprocket 120. Drivingforce is presented by the sprocket 112 which is connected to a motor(not shown). The rotation of the sprocket 112 is conveyed by shaft 124to the lower sprocket 120, which through chain 116 serves to drive uppersprocket 118. This in turn causes rotation of upper shaft 124 which inturn drives the roller 108. It will further be seen from an inspectionof FIG. 2 that auxiliary supports 126 are provided, and such supportingdevices will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Of furtherinterest in FIG. 2 is the base frame 128 and standards 130 which supportthe horizontal bed 132.

By virtue of the foregoing, each workpiece is top fed by the belt 32 tothe opening 36. A bafile 134 may be provided to prevent the workpiece 26from passing beyond the opening 36. Alternatively, a downward jet of airmay be provided to act upon the leading edge 40 of the workpiece 26 inorder to urge it into the opening 36.

It is to be noted that the amount of drape of the workpiece 26 iscontrolled by providing an indicating member (not shown) between therollers 104 in order to stop the action of the belt 32 prior to the timethat trailing edge 60 of the work piece 26 has pased beyond all of therollers 104. With this arrangement the trailing edge 60 of the workpiece26 will be held between the belt 32 and the bed 34 until the deliverytray becomes active, at which time the action of the delivery trayovercomes the holding action of the belt 32 and the bed 34 in order tocomplete the action of draping the workpiece 26 over one of the arms ofthe support member 12, as shown in FIG. 1 1.

With reference to FIG. 1, it will be seen that movement of movable jaw42 of the clamping means 38 is achieved by the action of an air cylinder152 that is held on a bracket 154. The plunger 155 of the air cylinder152 is joined to the movable jaw 42 and 156. When movement of belt 32 isstopped, as described hereinabove, through the action of indicatingmeans, such as photosensitive means positioned between the rollers 104,the same signal which stops the driving means for the belt 32, alsoactuates air cylinder 152. Thus, as shown in FIGS. and 11, the aircylinder plunger 155 is urged outwardly in order to drive movable jaw 42against fixed jaw 44 to clamp leading edge 40 of the workpiece 26. Itwill be seen that the jaws 42 and 44 are pivotally connected at 160.

When the tray 14 returns to its original position, the solenoidassociated with air cylinder 152 is actuated to retract the plunger 155,and thereby return the movable jaw 42 to its open position of FIG. 9.Also, the motor for the belt 32 is again started, and a new workpiece 26is fed to the opening 36.

It will be seen that as new workpieces 26 are draped about a particulararm of the support member 12 the clamping means 38 will clamp upon anever growing bundle upon the particular arm of the support member 12.This is not a serious limita tion upon the number of workpieces that canbe draped upon a particular arm of the support member since the openingbetween the jaws 42 and 44 can be made wider to accommodate a sufficientnumber of workpieces as are present in a practical bundle which can belifted away by an operator or by automatic machinery.

It will be further seen from FIGS. 1 and 2 that each of the jaws 42 and44 possesses a contact roller which may be of rubber or other frictionalmaterial. Furthermore, the clamping means 38 itself actually comprisessides 172 which define fixed jaw 44 and sides 174 which define themovable jaw 42. Extending between these sides, as shown in FIG. 2, arehorizontal struts 176.

The operation of the delivery tray 14 can be better understood byreference to FIGS. 7 and 8. The flow of goods in FIG. 7 is as indicatedby the arrow 30, with reference also being made to FIGS. 9, l0 and 11.It will be seen from FIG. 7 that upstream rod 49 is rotatable about itsown axis as is intermediate rod 48. Only downstream rod 46 is fixed.From an inspection of FIGS. 9, 10 and 11, it will be seen that theworkpiece 26 is intended to pass between the downstream rod 46 and theintermediate rod 48. It will be seen from FIG. 3 that the ends of therods 48 and 49 are secured for movement in parallel tracks 180, with theactual movement being caused by the action of air cylinder 182. It willbe seen from FIG. 7 that the rotatable rods 48 and 49 each pass throughthe connecting link 45, whereas the fixed rod 46 is attached to theconnecting link 45. It will be further seen that the passage of the rods48 and 49 to connecting link 45 is a free passage in order that thesetwo rods may be rotatable. Instead, as exemplified by rod 49 in FIG. 8,there is a support bushing 186 which is attached to the link 45. Ashorter bushing 188 is provided and a rotatable gear 190 is interposedbetween the shorter bushing 188 and an end bushing 192. It is to benoted that the gear 190 is attached directly to the rotatable rod 49, sothat rotation of the gear 190 will be in turn conveyed to the rod 49.

It will also be seen from FIG. 8 that the gear 190 is adapted to meshwith the teeth in the rack 194 which extends along the length of thetrack 180. Also, the air cylinder 182 is attached to the rotatable rod49 as shown in FIG. 8, wherein the plunger (not shown) of the cylinder182 is attached to coupling 196 that is secured to tab 198 of the block200. Another end bushing 202 is provided keeping in mind that the rod 49is free to rotate with respect to the block 200 as urged under therotation of the gear 190, and the rod 49 is not restrained by any oftheelements 192, 188, 186, 200 or 202.

With further reference to FIG. 7, it will be seen that intermediate rod48 is similarly attached to a gear 190, but does not have any couplingto the air cylinder 182. As previously noted the downstream rod 46 isfixed, and is simply attached to the link 45 by means of a coupling 204.

From the foregoing description it will be seen from FIG. 2 that gears190 are provided at each end of the rod 48 in order to mesh with teethin racks extending along tracks as also seen in FIG. 2. A similararrangement prevails for the upstream rod 49.

Thus, after the clamping means 38 has closed, the air cylinder 182 isactuated by a solenoid (not shown) in order to urge rod 49 in anupstream sense. This immediately causes the gear to rotate along thetrack 194 which in turn initiates rotation of the rod 49. The rod 48behaves in a similar way, and also rotates. Thus, actuation of the aircylinder 182 urges the link 45, and therefore, the delivery tray 14, tomove in an upstream sense in the direction of arrow 52 of FIGS. 10 andII in order to achieve the draping action of the workpiece 26 as shownin FIGS. and 11. After the delivery tray or movable member 14 hascompleted its upstream stroke, the air cylinder 182 is forced to reverseto return the delivery tray 14 to its initial position to be ready toact upon the next workpiece 26.

The operation of the support member or tumstile 12 can best be seen froman inspection of FIGS. 4 and 5. It will be seen that the tumstile 12includes a lower housing 60 with a lower block 62 and an upper block 64.A central shaft 66 is provided that extends upwardly from the lowerblock 62, through the upper plate 64 and toward the arms 18, 20, 22 and24. An intermediate plate 68 is provided with a coupler 70 in order tolend support for bearings 72, with due allowance being made for thepassage of the shaft 66. Near the lower end of shaft 66 a clutch 74 isprovided, and a gear 75 is attached to the shaft 66 immediately belowthe clutch 74. The shaft 66 terminates in a narrowed lower end 76 whichfits within the block 62, with a bearing 78 being provided. As furthershown in FIG. 4 the entire assembly sits upon a support 80 which passesabout frames 82.

It will be further seen that an upper coupler 84 is provided whichreceives each of the arms l6, 18, and 22 of the tumstile 12.

It will be seen from FIG. 5 that an air cylinder 85 is provided in orderto reciprocate the rack 86 having teeth which mesh with the teeth of thegear 75. The rack 86 rides in a track 88. Thus, movement of the rack 86will cause a turning movement of the tumstile 12. However, it is usuallydesired that such turning movement be in increments of 90. Thus, a stopmember 200 is provided as can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 6. The stop member200 is solenoid actuated, so that when the air cylinder 85 operates, thestop member 200 will be raised to allow rotation of the arms of theturnstile 12 with the stop member 200 immediately returning to itsinitial place in order to restrict rotation of the arms of the tumstile12 to a simple 90 turn. Altemately, indexing means or other stopmechanisms may be used as will occur to those skilled in the art. Inactual operation of the present invention, a predetermined number ofworkpieces will be deposited upon a particular arm of the tumstile 12.Then, a control device will actuate movement of the arms of turnstile 12in order to present a different arm below the delivery tray 14 to allowthe formation of a new bundle.

It will therefore be seen that a modified stacker for flexible articlessuch as cloth workpieces is provided. Each workpiece is caused to passfrom the output station by means of the action of delivery belt 32 whichinitially moves the workpieces across the output station 31. Theworkpieces are caused to be delivered to the support member of tumstile12 by the action of a movable member, like the delivery tray 14. Theclamping means 38 serves to hold the downstream edge of the workpiece26, while the upstream edge 60 of the workpiece 26 is still being heldby the delivery belt 32. The action of the delivery tray causes theupstream end of the workpiece to be separated from the delivery belt,and then draped over an arm of turnstile 12.

By virtue of the foregoing action it has been found that a reliablemodified stacker is provided wherein very neat bundles are achievedwhich do not require reshuflling by an operator. Instead, the bundlesare ready for the next sewing operation.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully illustrate myinvention that others may, by applying current or future knowledge,readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service.

What is claimed as the invention is:

l. A stacker for flexible articles comprising an output station to whichthe flexible articles are conveyed, a support member and a movablemember to transport the articles from the output station to the supportmember, said movable member being reciprocable and including rod meansto contact said flexible article and convey it toward said supportmember said movable member being a delivery tray comprised of at leastone rod WhlCh contacts said flexible article,

said support member including an output station having four arms spacedfrom one another with said movable member draping said flexible articleon one of said arms, said output station having an opening through whichsaid flexible member passes downwardly and past said rod with saidoutput station also including a transport belt which holds said flexiblearticle until said movable member is actuated, said output stationfurther including means which hold the leading edge of said flexiblearticle during the action of said movable member, and control and motormeans to rotate said support member after a predetermined number offlexible members have been draped on one of the arms of the supportmember.

2. The stacker of claim I wherein said clamping means are actuated priorto the rotation of said movable member.

3. A stacker for depositing flexible cloth workpieces on a supportmember, including four arms spaced 90 from one another, said workpieceshaving a leading edge, a middle section and a trailing edge, saidstacker including an output station, belt means to convey said articlesto said output station, said belt means initially holding said trailingedge, clamping means holding said leading edge, reciprocable deliverytray means including at least one rod contacting said workpiece in saidmiddle section to urge said trailing edge away from said belt means assaid middle section is draped upon said support member.

4. The stacker of claim 3 wherein said reciprocable delivery tray meansis adapted to drape said workpieces on one of said arms.

5. The stacker of claim 3 wherein said output station has an openingthrough which said flexible member passes downwardly and past said rod.

6. The stacker of claim 3 including control and motor means to rotatesaid support member after a predetermined number of workpieces have beendraped on one of the arms of said support member.

i i 3! i

1. A stacker for flexible articles comprising an output station to whichthe flexible articles are conveyed, a support member and a movablemember to transport the articles from the output station to the supportmember, said movable member being reciprocable and including rod meansto contact said flexible article and convey it toward said supportmember, said movable member being a delivery tray comprised of at leastone rod which contacts said flexible article, said support memberincluding an output station having four arms spaced 90* from one anotherwith said movable member draping said flexible article on one of saidarms, said output station having an opening through which said flexiblemember passes downwardly and past said rod with said output station alsoincluding a transport belt which holds said flexible article until saidmovable member is actuated, said output station further including meanswhich hold the leading edge of said flexible article during the actionof said movable member, and control and motor means to rotate saidsupport member after a predetermined number of flexible members havebeen draped on one of the arms of the support member.
 2. The stacker ofclaim 1 wherein said clamping means are actuated prior to the rotationof said movable member.
 3. A stacker for depositing flexible clothworkpieces on a support member, including four arms spaced 90* from oneanother, said workpieces having a leading edge, a middle section and atrailing edge, said stacker including an output station, belt means toconvey said articles to said output station, said belt means initiallyholding said trailing edge, clamping means holding said leading edge,reciprocable delivery tray means including at least one rod contactingsaid workpiece in said middle section to urge said trailing edge awayfrom said belt means as said middle section is draped upon said supportmember.
 4. The stacker of claim 3 wherein said reciprocable deliverytray means is adapted to drape said workpieces on one of said arms. 5.The stacker of claim 3 wherein said output station has an openingthrough which said flexible member passes downwardly and past said rod.6. The stacker of claim 3 including control and motor means to rotatesaid support member after a predetermined number of workpieces have beendraped on one of the arms of said support member.